NEW LIFE IN POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 950, 18 October 1910, Page 4

NEW LIFE IN POLITICS.

One of the most cheering things about the public meeting, addressed' by the member for Wellington North last evening, was the size and enthusiasm of the audience. The greatest handicap which the Party of Reform has to face in New Zealand today is the apathy of. the public regarding the evils which have grown up in thei politics of the country. Those evils, as we have pointed out ,on previous occasions,' have been of gradual growth, and a great part of the electors of the country have bo-, come habituated to them, while a still larger section, comprising : the younger generation, have grown up under thorn and know no other system of government. They regard it as. jjuite the. natural thing' that the

.Government of i. 'the ■ day •' should openly -use the public'funds forthe purpose of-retaiiiing office; that'it isperfectly: proper jfor the .Government of .the-day. to set class against, class and■by . pandering :to one or the other:-at: opportune times,[ retain its hold/on office with, all its'attendant opportunities for further encourage-' merit : of. sectional "prejudices' and; class hatreds., "hey. regard it in[ ; many cases-as an evidence of skill in' statesmanship w'len' the Phime' Minister' plays off cho province against 'another,'and,after, producing a proper:, feeling of anxiety, in the minds, of 'both', do)es: qui as [.favours; what the provinces should .be able [to.claim as; righ'ts:' or .should:hot receive at all; The;.'co'untry['has grown so acthing as inevitable 1 that .it.lias been a difficult . task to' impress on -the -. public mind the evil underlying this degradation^,our pjubliciife, not merely from ,the. point of-view of the proper economic administration .of .the affairs of the:; Dominion, but also from its ev^ni,more harmful, effect on the .mom^'lof'-a' young nation. During the past'two' years,-however,: there: has been ,[ai remarkable awakening,' due: in. a. rheasure to,the weak-, noss of the''Government and.the con-, sequent : disclosilre' ; - r ;qf[.'- its reckless unconcern.for tfie' public interest, or any interest' but;'.its own- hold' on office;/but.due alsofvto.the ..manner in which theiadycicatei'pf Reform .have laboured-'.to;:place'4he' true position beforo/the. people;[of ' the. country. Last' : .evonihg's:,;,me'eting afforded,/ a •proof -the Selectors of.:.Wellington North have ifollowed the political questions. of.' the.'hour "with >a;close and 'intelligent.!interest 'that'augurs ■well■for''the' futirc., ;lt. is noteworthy also that a. veryi'large proportion' of those present women; electors.' So soon as'the women of the country realise the'fulli extent;to which un-, clean'influences-have.:,crept : into our politics—which| ; :wiH;[be, as soonu'asthey'take an : aciive?inferost'in public affairs-the'-dobm, of ./the [existing Administration' will-be- sealed. ..Mr. ' Herdman -:is; :to;, be.' congratulated: on: the confidence he has: inspired-, in his, constituents; as .indicated... by ! . last night's:-me^ting;- : as -well asr.-on -the. interest';,which-'his-address evoked..: The Reform Party would do weir to take' a hint from the success, of; the member for • Wellington North and miss no opportunity, of putting',its case-before -thp! people:,: The electors., ; to the -possibilities -of -the. situation—they: [reepgnise', that the Government -is<cffete. ; and 'tottering; but Hhey. .desire also' ; to. know sonicthings more.', of i,:ithose ' who are „- ; it.s-. riatu ral.;>iiuccesfebrs.v, ,arc» very busy Nvith their-sessional duties just nbwj'but iipsopportunity should be'lost of ad'drefeing : ■meetings, anU:c)arly-hextyear a,cam--, paigri: should.:be'::embarked :on whi'chi will arouso/the] whole country.' . •..,,;>